STCC PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

MEMBERSHIP MEETING

September 18, 2002

Location:  13/114

Call to Order:  1:37 PM

Reports and Announcements

Secretary’s Report of April 3,2002 , L. Kleindienst.  Motion to accept R. Rodgers, T. Glanville.  Passed. 

Treasurer’s Report as of September 18, 2002 , K. Czuchra.  Motion to accept C. Dupont, M. Woble-Valenski.  Passed. 

Ken has been appointed to a new MCCC Finance Committee which, among other things, is working on a financial policy manual that all chapters will be expected to follow. 

Vice President/SAC report,  R. Albano

• Meeting of building  representatives will be held Oct 2, 2002 in 2/704.  Reps will receive list of contact people and outline of their responsibilities.
• SAC activity is going to be critical in coming year due to gubernatorial election, political activity to fund unfunded state contracts, campaign to repeal GPO/WEP,  and monitoring expected reversions because of state’s continuing  fiscal crisis.  Currently working on building a phone tree.

 

President’s Report,  C. Mathison.

• C. Mathison offered condolences from the membership  to R. Rodgers on the loss of his father.  She also announced the illness of D. Barry and B. Scannapieco.  Both are expected to be out for the semester.  Cards and e-mail messages are encouraged.
• Professional staff appeals are moving along, but because everything must go back to DMG for resolution there is no time frame as to when it will all be resolved.
• There has been no movement on faculty appeals.
• Of the 5 non-reappointed faculty last spring two were reappointed;  1 declined an adjunct position, 1 took a job elsewhere, and 1 is teaching through SCE at STCC.  Of the three retrenched unit members 1 was able to take advantage of the ERIP, and 2 were rehired.
• A one year contract extension was signed in August.  It is hoped that the monetary update will still be available next April inspite of the states fiscal crisis.
• MCCC Fall  Leadership meeting will be held Sept 23 at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Marlboro.  There will be a presentation on the GPO/WEP, dinner, and K. Boudreau and A. Wass – new officers of MTA – will highlight major HE focus of MTA for FY 03.

 

STCC  PA  Meeting  Sept 18, 2002 

• The new student evaluation forms for day school have been approved.  There are actually three forms:  classroom, lab, and clinical.   However, before they are implemented they must be impact bargained.  Consequently, it may be next fall before they are used.  Only the first four questions on the new form are to be used for evaluative purposes.
• MCCC has formed a new Professional Staff Discussion Group to review the process of classification, discuss concerns, raise issues for eventual new                                                

     contract negotiations.  Each campus will be sending two reps to the three  

     planned mtgs.  L. Kleindienst and K. Kozuch will represent STCC.  The first

mtg. is Oct 9 at Quinsigamond.  Prior to that mtg. one  or two  PS campus meetings will be held to gather PS staff concerns.

• Two other MCCC committees are being formed.  Unit members are encouraged to submit their names for the Faculty Workload  Committee (1 course reduction in spring) and a DCE Action Committee to prepare a DCE action plan for MCCC Delegate Assembly in spring.
• GIC co-payment and prescription drug fees were unilaterally increased as of July 1, 2002.  Should let legislators know our concerns over this.
• The campus unions have agreed to a new Holiday closing plan.  The campus will stay open throughout the holidays with “minimum workforce staffing.”  December 23 and 30 are regular workdays.  Dec 24, 26, 27, 31 and Jan 1 and 2 may be made up or personal or vacation time may be taken if one is not scheduled to work.
• Contrary to previous years NEA did not send Certificate of Insurance to members.  S. Cutler will follow-up on this and ensure all unit members receive a copy.
• Asbestos removal in bldg. 20 has received a 2 yr. extension.  There had been some problems with the MTA lawyers not getting campus updates, but that has been resolved.  As of this date, all tests report no sign of asbestos in the building.  The third floor has been declared safe so is no longer in the clean-up plan.  Options to move some departments off campus were foiled by lack of funding.  Cafeteria, bookstore, student activities, and early childhood may be moved.  Question is where on campus.

 

MCCC Director, S. Cutler.

Sandy went over the structure of the Board of Directors for the membership and noted that all campuses are represented on the Board and that three Board members sit on the Executive Committee as well.  She is one of the three.  STCC is the most active and proactive campus of the membership.

Legislative breakfast is scheduled for October 25, 8-10 AM location to be announced.  All legislators were sent letters of thanks for supporting the continuation of health insurance at 85/15%.

MCCC membership is asked to support AFSCME activities in efforts to get their funding for their contracts.  A “Community Lunch Hour” is scheduled for Sept. 25.  Those who are available are encouraged to participate.

STCC  PA  Meeting  Sept 18, 2002

Coordinators Reports

Grievance, M. Bourbeau.

• Although grievance went to mediation, retrenchments of last spring could not be resolved due to current contract language.  Historically there were no grounds to support a grievance filing.  In anticipation of any further retrenchments under similar circumstances, the only avenue open is to change the language of the contract during the next bargaining session.
• Request for 90% workload reduction for one faculty member for FY 03 required a letter of agreement between STCC and MCCC.
• Administrative request  to combine unit workload with part time administrative workload was withdrawn by Administration.
• Class size is a huge issue this semester.  High enrollment and too many authorized Datatel overrides during registration complicated the problem.   Members are advised to work within contract parameters and if class size exceeds the parameters or are of concern get in touch with M. Bourbeau.

 

Strategic Action

• C. Dupont reported on GPO/WEP and announced the formation of a committee to formulate a plan of action for our campus which may be used as a prototype for all Massachusetts community colleges.  All state employees are affected by either one and possibly both of these laws.   Anyone interested should contact  her.  MCCC and MTA in association with NEA will be sponsoring efforts to repeal both these laws.
• See VP and Director reports for other actions.

New Business

C. Mathison, K. Czuchra and T. Powers presented the new PA website.  They talked about its creation and purpose.  Everyone is encouraged to make use of it.  Links to officers, MCCC and NEA are provided.  Comments and suggestions can be directed to Tom Powers at hpowers@stcc.edu.   Web URL is:  www.stccpa.org. 

Motion to adjourn, 2:38 PM, M. Bourbeau, S. Cutler. 

Secretary, 

Lynn Kleindienst 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

STCC PA Meeting Sept 18, 2002